Chapter 13
SHELBY
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The days turn into weeks.
Then weeks turn into months, and before I realize it, the end of March arrives.
Three months since my escape. Ninety days cut off from physical contact with everyone except Cam.
The time away helped more than expected. Cam now touches me with no need for me to initiate contact. I talk to the guys weekly, and we’re working a lot out. I still haven’t told them everything that happened, but I need to.
They deserve to know.
Since he arrived, Cam’s started remote learning, while I dropped out and plan to take the test for my GED later. I just can’t concentrate on school like I should.
Cam’s birthday is in two weeks. I plan to invite everyone down here for the weekend and tell them everything that happened after we celebrate Cam’s birthday.
Before I can chicken out, I bite the bullet and call Nick first to find out his opinion.
“Hey, sis, what’s up?” he greets me.
“I need your advice,” I say. “Cam’s birthday is in two weeks, and I’m considering having everyone come here for a birthday party.”
“That’s a great idea. The guys will be happy to see you.”
“I’ll be happy to see them, too.” I listen to the background noise on his phone to gauge if now is a good time before I ask, “I was also thinking about telling everyone the full story about what happened to me.”
Nick takes a sharp breath in.
Before I lose my courage, I continue. “You should know. You deserve to know, but I don’t want to tell the story over the phone or Facetime. At the same time, I don’t want to ruin Cam’s birthday or everyone’s time here.”
“Telling everyone in person would be best. It could help heal you more, but only if you’re ready.”
God, I love Nick. He’s the best friend and brother I could have.
“And, Shelby, you won’t ruin his birthday. Just tell us when you’re ready. I don’t care if it’s in the middle of him blowing out his candles. Cam wouldn’t want you to hold back a second longer than you need to.”
Nick’s image lightens the topic, and I chuckle at the idea of Cam, his cheeks puffed up to blow out the candles on his cake, but he’s frozen like that.
“We can be there for a week. It’s spring break, so it’s perfect timing. We have to be back on the eighth of April.”
“Which is Cam’s birthday, so we’ll celebrate it before you leave. And I forgot about spring break, so yeah, that’ll work. He’s out grocery shopping, so I’ll talk to the twins and Luke. Then, can you all plan to be here on the third?” I ask.
Nick laughs. “No, school is done on March thirty-first, and if I know the guys, they’ll want to fly in that night.”
It wouldn’t surprise me if they skipped the last day. “Okay, I won’t have time to call Sam and Paige before Cam returns. Will you find out if they can come?”
“Are you okay with them being there for everything?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I filled Paige in on the vague details. Plus, she was amazing to me while the guys were hypnotized. She deserves to be here, too.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of that,” Nick says.
“I better call the guys. Cam’s going to be back soon,” I tell him. “I love you, brother.”
Next, I Facetime Mav and Dom. “Hey, guys.”
“Hi, babe,” Mav says.
“You good?” Dom asks, his voice growly with concern.
“Yep, I don’t have a lot of time.” I take a deep breath. “Cam’s birthday is coming up, and I want you to come visit.”
Mav’s face lights up. “Spring Break in Hawaii?”
My shoulders slump. “Why am I not surprised you already know where I am?”
“Don’t worry, Firefly. No one told us,” Dom says. “We recognized the furniture in your pictures.”
“Oh, how long have you known?” I wave the question away, my hand flapping in front of my face. “Actually, doesn’t matter. Do you want to come down here?”
Mav smiles big. “Hell, yeah.”
“Do you want us there, Firefly?” Dom asks, a hint of worry in his tone.
“Yes, I’m ready. I miss you so much. And there’s something else.” I exhale, the twins freezing in place, concern and worry oozing off them. “While you’re here, I want to tell you what happened in that basement.”
Dom and Mav exchange unreadable glances.
“I’m proud of you, Firefly,” Dom says, a hint of strain in his voice that I ignore.
“Thanks. I better call Luke and tell him. So, this is Operation Get Everyone’s Asses Here So We Can Celebrate The Day That is Cam, Even Though You Won’t Be Here For His Actual Birthday,” I say, seriously.
The twins pause for a minute before laughing, just like I planned. “That’s a pretty long name there, Princess,” Mav says, still chuckling.
I laugh and wave at the phone. “Can’t wait to see you. Bye.”
As soon as I hang up, I call Luke and tell him the plan as well.
With the two weeks flying by, running out to buy party supplies with Cam around has been challenging.
He went out surfing, and I had a delivery of party supplies. I call Mav to vent my frustrations.
“What’s up this time, baby?” Mav says.
“Where should I hide these party supplies?” I glance around the kitchen and living room.
“Your room.”
“No, Cam’s always in there.”
“Have her put them in the second bedroom in the bathroom closet!” Dom yells. “Cam shouldn’t go in there.”
“Did you hear that, Shelby?”
“Yes, thank you, Grizzly. I need to go. He’ll be coming up from surfing soon. Bye.” I hang up and run the supplies up the steps to where Dom suggested.
As I come back down, I receive a notice that the groceries I ordered earlier have arrive.
I’m putting a pineapple in the refrigerator as Cam comes in. “Hi, did you have fun surfing?”
“Yes.” He glances over all the bags. “Damn, Shelby. You ordered too much food.”
I have my response ready. “You eat a lot, and this is my first time ordering. Plus, my appetite is back. We’ll eat it all.”
He looks at the bags. “I’m not sure about that.”
Before I know it, March thirty-first arrives.
The guys, along with Nick, Cin, Sam, and Paige finished their midterms early, then hopped on one of the twin’s planes to head here, so they should be here any minute.
“Shelby, what’s going on with you? You’re a nervous wreck.” Cam steps in front of me where I have been wearing a path on the floor with my pacing.
“Nothing.” I flap my hand around, trying to wave his concern, but it comes across like I’m swatting a bug out of the air. So much for me trying to act normal. He’s right; I’m a nervous wreck.
Cam reaches out and rests his hands on my shoulders. “You’ve been acting weird for the last week.”
The doorbell rings, and I jump, yelping like someone stuck me with a needle.
Cam raises an eyebrow at me. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“Go open the door,” my voice comes out strained and panicky.
His brows crease, then he heads over to the door. Before he opens it, he runs to the hall tree near the door where a baseball bat sits; he goes to grab the bat.
“Cam, it’s okay,” I say quickly, not wanting him to bludgeon who’s on the other side of the door.
He releases the bat and straightens, taking a defensive stance before opening it.
He turns, puts his back to the door, and looks at me.
Despite my tension, his expression makes me laugh, and I stick my tongue out at him.
He relaxes and opens the door, and they stand, waiting.
“Surprise!” they yell. “Happy birthday, week!”
“Oh my God.” Laughing, Cam turns and has so much love in his eyes. “Is this why you’ve been so nervous these last few days? You arranged for them to come?”
I give him a smirk. He steps back and lets everyone in. He hugs everyone.
The guys walk over to me where I stand at the edge of the living room.
“Hi, Shelby. It’s good to see you.” Dom stops short of the living room.
“You, too, Dom. How was the flight?” I sound nervous and unsure even to my ears.
“Long. But it’s worth it to see Cam and you.” He rubs his hand along his cheek. “Umm, we’re not sure what to do around you.”
Cam stands beside me and puts his arm around my waist. “She’s handling me touching her so long as she knows what I’m doing. And, if I come up from behind her or not in her line of sight, I make plenty of noise not to startle her. To start, you should let her hug you first.”
I glance up at Cam and smile. “Good suggestion.”
The guys stand there while Nick, Cin, Paige, and Sam hang back so as not to overwhelm me. I walk up to Luke first because if any of them freak me out, it’ll be him.
“Hi.” I drop my head and stare at my feet.
“Hi.” Luke holds still, his hands down at his sides. “What should I do?”
His actions and questions make me smile. “Nothing, just stand there and let me hug you. I’ll tell you if you can put your arms around me.”
He nods, and I step forward and wrap my arms around his waist.
We stay like that for a minute before I say, “You can touch me.”
His arms slowly wrap around my back. Relief courses through me when all I feel is…home.
I didn’t want to tell Luke that he was the one who worried me the most because he’s the same size as Evan. I’m not sure why I’ve been afraid of them hugging me. I should have known I’d never be scared of them. My heart and head both know they would never hurt me.
“I’ve missed you so damn much.” Tears streak down my cheeks, a slight hiccup in my voice.
“I love you.” His body relaxes into me, but he doesn’t squeeze me any tighter. “The guys and I talked on the flight down here. We’re going to show you how much you mean to us.”
“You don’t need to do that.” I want to say more, but I’m interrupted.
“Yes, we do,” Mav states from somewhere to the side of me.
“All right.” It isn’t worth arguing about.
What girl in her right mind would reject love being showered on her?
I repeat this process with each of the guys before repeating it with Nick, Cin, Paige, and a hesitant Sam. Then, the guys head out to the back deck and sit down. Cin and Paige are the only ones left in the living room.
“Don’t even say it, Cin. There’s nothing to forgive. I’m the one who freaked out about everything.” I hang my hands down.
“You had every right to freak out.” Cin shakes her head in denial. “I have to say that you look better.”
“Thanks.” I turn to Paige. “You should have seen me a few months ago. I didn’t want to go outside because I feared people would think Cam beat me.”
Paige lets out a somewhat awkward chuckle.
Cin fidgets with her nails. “Your mom was determined to come, but Peter and Nick talked her out of it. She didn’t understand why she should be left out. And she’s demanding to come here for summer break.”
“I figured. Peter has a place a few houses down. I’m surprised she’s not there and didn’t show up on her own. She means well, but she calls almost every day. She never asks how I’m doing. She talks about herself and things the family has been up to. Most of the time, Peter is there to cut in and tries to redirect the conversation, but that seems to upset her.”
Cin nods sadly. “Yeah, Nick and I have witnessed a few of those calls. I don’t know what’s going on with Aunt Patty.”
Paige twirls her hair. “Thank you for inviting Sam and me, since this has become your haven. It means a lot to us. I’ve never been out of the state.”
“I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you much in the last few months.” I stare at my chipped, painted toenails.
“Shelby, please don’t worry about that. I understand you were going through something traumatic and needed time and space. I was worried and wanted to help, even though I couldn’t.” She turns around and looks through the sliding door we have open. “Is that the ocean? I’ve never seen an ocean before.”
“Yeah, go ahead down and follow the path.” I remember the first time I saw the ocean.
Paige walks out onto the deck, grabs Sam’s hand, and squeals as they race to the beach.
I smile at her excitement.
Dom comes over and leans against the railing. “Any thoughts on what you want to do today?”
“We can stay around here and go down to the beach or pool.”
Luke yawns. “Damn, I forgot how hard jetlag hits.”
“That’s why we should stay around here.” I shrug. “It won’t be long before you want to crash. We can order pizza tonight.”
“I’m good with that,” Dom says.
We end up playing Spoons on the dining table, since that’s the only table where we can all fit. It’s a simple game.
After several rounds, Luke, Mav, Cin, Sam, and I remain. The rest watch us play.
Mav deals out the cards. “You have to be cheating, Luke.”
I chuckle. “Why do you assume he’s cheating?”
“Because he’s winning. He’s not that fast. Don’t think I didn’t see you slip her a spoon a time or two.” He points between the two of us.
We look at each other, then at the same time, glance at Mav.
“No idea what you’re talking about. Jetlag has gone to your brain,” Luke says with a straight face.
Mav narrows his eyes. “Deal, cheater. You’re going down this round.”
The cards go around.
We run out, and Luke has to shuffle the cards.
While Luke is doing that, Mav reaches out to grab two spoons, and I grab one. Cin goes to grab one at the same time as Sam, but she gets there first.
Luke notices the spoons are gone and glances around.
“Looking for this?” Mav waves the other spoon. “This is for cheating.” He throws it near the couch.
Sam and Luke stare at each other, then take off for the couch. Luke dives over the couch as Sam slides across the floor for it.
“Oh my God.” I giggle.
“Sam hates to lose.” Paige laughs.
“Damn, I’m glad I’m out. They did this another time we played. The spoon slipped under the couch, and Dom went all hulk and flipped it.” Nick snorts.
Dom cracks a grin.
Sam raises the spoon in the air. “Got it!”
Luke falls to his back, out of breath. At the table, Mav laughs so hard he cries.
“Don’t you dare pull that again while playing with the girls,” Dom warns Mav.
“It would be fun to see them fight like that.” He gives me an innocent smile while he wags his eyebrows.
The game continues until Cin wins.
Mav rubs his belly. “I’m starving.”
“When aren’t you?” Cam jabs Mav in the stomach.
“Let’s order pizza,” I suggest.
Dom refuses to eat pineapple on it, not caring if we’re in Hawaii and it’s Hawaiian Pizza. He mumbles something about only psychos and something else we couldn’t understand.
After dinner, the others leave, so it’s my guys and me, cuddling on the couch and watching a movie. It’s nice to feel normal again.
When it’s time to sleep, Cam comes to me and asks if I would mind if he spends the night with Mav.
How can I say no? He’s been with me, and I’m sure he has needs even though he never tries anything.
I walk over to Luke and Dom. “Please don’t be upset. It has nothing to do with you. It’s me. I’m not ready yet for one of you to sleep in my bed.”
“Firefly, it’s fine. We don’t expect to jump into your bed. We understand.” Dom stops himself from reaching for me.
“Now, we better sleep because tomorrow is another beach day.” Luke walks me to my room and leaves me at the door.
I’m unsure how to manage it, but somehow, I fall asleep and don’t wake until morning.